The Life and Death of 9413, a Hollywood Extra (1928/Florey & Vorkapich) Interesting silent short, telling the story of a man who comes to Hollywood to find fame and fortune but instead finds nothing but failure and despair, and he seems to descend into psychosis and depression. The setting is depicted here in hellish shadows and stark lighting contrasts courtesy of Citizen Kane's Gregg Toland. Add in some primitive, frantic hand-held sequences and the film produces a wonderfully terrifying sense of futility and dehuminization for our main character. In an early scene, he is branded across the forehead with the number 9413, signifying his worthlessness among the masses of Hollywood hopefuls, and it is only upon his eventual death and ascension to Heaven that he is freed from his worldly confines and his enthusiastic smile returns.
The Fall of the House of Usher (1928/Watson & Webber) Foreboding and indistinct, nothing clear is really transmitted here, although you know that's how the directors wanted it.
Fuji (1974/Breer) Really enjoyable short, mixing quick cutting camera work containing fleeting a sense of nostalgia, with simplistic stop motion animation, all focusing on the ominous Mount Fuji as it passes by through a train window. The only soundtrack is the coming and going sounds of the train over a rickety track. It all adds up to form what seems like a glimpse of someone's distant memories projected onto the screen. Great little piece of work.
